This list of African species extinct in the Holocene covers extinctions from the Holocene epoch, a geologic epoch that began about 11,650 years before present (about 9700 BCE) and continues to the present.
Africa is highly biodiverse; it is the continent with the largest number of megafauna species, as it was least affected by the extinction of the Pleistocene megafauna. However, a few species have disappeared from Africa as part of the ongoing Holocene extinction, driven by human activity.
Madagascar and the Indian Ocean islands, Macaronesia, and Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha are biogeographically distinct from mainland Africa and have a much greater number of Holocene extinctions. Recently extinct species from these regions are listed in separate articles.
Many extinction dates are unknown due to a lack of relevant information.
Mammals (class Mammalia)
Golden moles, otter shrews, and tenrecs (order Afrosoricida)
Golden moles (family Chrysochloridae)
Possibly extinct
Elephant-like mammals (order Proboscidea)
Elephants and mammoths (family Elephantidae)
Rodents (order Rodentia)
Old World rats and mice (family Muridae)
Possibly extinct
Primates (order Primates)
Lorises, pottos, and angwantibos (family Lorisidae)
Possibly extinct
True insectivores (order Eulipotyphla)
True shrews (family Soricidae)
Locally extinct
Carnivorans (order Carnivora)
Cats (family Felidae)
Locally extinct
Dogs (family Canidae)
Locally extinct
Bears (family Ursidae)
Locally extinct
Odd-toed ungulates (order Perissodactyla)
Horses and allies (family Equidae)
Possibly extinct
Rhinoceroses (family Rhinocerotidae)
Possibly extinct
Extinct in the wild
Even-toed ungulates (order Artiodactyla)
Pigs (family Suidae)
True deer (family Cervidae)
Locally extinct
Cattle, goats, antelopes, and others (family Bovidae)
Extinct in the wild
Locally extinct
Right and bowhead whales (family Balaenidae)
Locally extinct
Gray whales (family Eschrichtiidae)
Locally extinct
Birds (class Aves)
Landfowl (order Galliformes)
Guineafowl (family Numididae)
Possibly extinct
Bustards (order Otidiformes)
Bustards (family Otididae)
Possibly extinct
Shorebirds (order Charadriiformes)
Oystercatchers (family Haematopodidae)
Sandpipers (order Scolopacidae)
Possibly extinct
Auks (family Alcidae)
Hawks and relatives (order Accipitriformes)
Hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures (family Accipitridae)
Locally extinct
Passerines (order Passeriformes)
Cisticolas and allies (family Cisticolidae)
Reptiles (class Reptilia)
Squamates (order Squamata)
Plated lizards (family Gerrhosauridae)
Amphibians (class Amphibia)
Frogs (order Anura)
African torrent frogs (family Petropedetidae)
Possibly extinct
True toads (family Bufonidae)
Possibly extinct
Extinct in the wild
Ray-finned fish (class Actinopterygii)
Minnows and allies (order Cypriniformes)
Carps, minnows, and relatives (family Cyprinidae)
Salmon, trout and relatives (order Salmoniformes)
Salmon, trout and relatives (family Salmonidae)
Toothcarps (order Cyprinodontiformes)
Livebearers and relatives (family Poeciliidae)
Insects (class Insecta)
Butterflies and moths (order Lepidoptera)
Gossamer-winged butterflies (family Lycaenidae)
Ostracods (class Ostracoda)
Order Podocopida
Family Candonidae
See also
List of Madagascar and Indian Ocean Island animals extinct in the Holocene
List of Macaronesian animals extinct in the Holocene
List of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha animals extinct in the Holocene Lists of extinct species List of extinct bird species since 1500 Extinct in the wild Lazarus taxon